Contents


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This contents list is sub divided into the following sections, each Section contains relevant Chapters/Procedures: (Click on the title to jump to the Section you require):

  1. All Children
  2. Looked After Children
  3. Adoption and Permanence
  4. Fostering Services
  5. Leaving Care and Transition
  6. Case Management and Recording
  7. Appendices


1. All Children

Caption: All Children Contents
   

1.1

Policy Values and Principles

  
1.1.1 Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles  
1.1.2 Quality Assurance and Learning Framework  
1.1.3 Confidentiality Policy  
1.1.4 Supervision and Line Management Policy  
  See also: Supervision Template  
1.1.5 Practice Standards: When Referral to Children's Services are Regarding the Family or Member of Bedford Borough Staff, or Anyone they have a Personal Relationship With  
1.1.6 Participation and Engagement Strategy  
1.1.7 Equality and Diversity  

   

1.2

Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) / Early Help

  
  See also: Early Intervention: Policy and Provision (House of Commons Library)  
1.2.1 Early Help Strategy  
1.2.2 Early Help Assessment  
1.2.3 Prevention of Homelessness and Provision of Accommodation for 16 and 17 year olds who may be Homeless and/or require Accommodation; and Duty to Refer  
1.2.4 Family Group Conference Service  
1.2.5 A Child Centred System - Understanding Thresholds  
1.2.6 Capacity and Consent  

   

1.3

Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) and Missing

  
1.3.1 Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation  
1.3.2 Safeguarding Children who Run Away and Go Missing from Home and Care
(Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Luton Safeguarding Children's Board Procedures Manual)		  

   

1.4

Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

  
  Also see: Local Resources  
1.4.1 Contacts and Referrals  
1.4.2 Children's Services Team Processes (Flowchart)  
1.4.3 Single Assessment Updated
1.4.4 Section 47 Enquiries  
1.4.5 Complex Strategy Meetings - Practice Guide  
1.4.6 Strategy Meetings - Practice Guide  
1.4.7 Procedure and Guidance in relation to Pre-Birth Planning and Assessments
(Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Luton Safeguarding Children's Board Procedures Manual)		  

   

1.5

Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC)

  
1.5.1 Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery Updated
1.5.2 Families with No Recourse to Public Funds  

   

1.6

Children in Need

  
1.6.1 Young Carers  
1.6.2 Child in Need Meetings and the Child in Need Plan  

   

1.7

Court Proceedings

  
1.7.1 Applications for Emergency Protection Orders  
1.7.2 Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline  
1.7.3 Legal Planning Meetings  
1.7.4 Joint Protocol on Supervision Orders (The East of England Children's Services)  
1.7.5 Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol  
  See also: Family Justice Resource Hub (ADCS) - This hosts a series of practical resources, such as templates, tools and practice guidance, which will be of interest to those working in the family justice system.  

   

1.8

Children with Disabilities

  
1.8.1 Children With Disabilities Team  
1.8.2 Person Budgets and Direct Payments Updated
1.8.3 Short Breaks  
1.8.4 Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Updated
1.8.5 Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings  
1.8.6 Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National Framework  

   

1.9

Child Protection

  
  See also: Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Luton Safeguarding Childrens Board Procedures Manual  
1.9.1 Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After, Child in Need or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24)  
1.9.2 MAPPA - Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements  
1.9.3 Guidance on Child Protection Visiting  

   

1.10

Deprivation of Liberty and Mental Capacity

  
1.10.1 Deprivation of Liberty  
1.10.2 Mental Capacity Act  

   

1.11

Mental Health

  
1.11.1 Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 Updated

   

1.12

Complaints and Whistleblowing

 
1.12.1 Complaints and Representations  
1.12.2 Whistleblowing or Raising Concerns at Work
(Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Luton Safeguarding Children Boards Procedures)		  


2. Looked After Children

Caption: Looked After Children
   

2.1

Decision to Look After and Care Planning

  
2.1.1 Looked After Children Strategy  
2.1.2 Decision to Look After  
2.1.3 Care Planning  
2.1.4 Kinship Care  
2.1.5 Ceasing to Look After a Child  
2.1.6 Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After Children  
2.1.7 Permanence Planning Guidance  
2.1.8 Permanency Planning Meetings  
2.1.9 Placement Planning, Placement Stability and Placement Disruptions  
2.1.10 Placements in Foster Care  
2.1.11 Long Term Foster Care  
2.1.12 Placements in Residential Care  
2.1.13 Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  
2.1.14 A Guide for Staff working with Looked After Children under the provisions of LASPO in Bedfordshire Youth Offending Service and Bedford Borough/Central Bedfordshire Children's Services  
2.1.15 Remand to Youth Detention Accommodation (YDA) and Remand to Local Authority Accommodation (LAA) guidance for Court Officers  
2.1.16 Out of Area Placements  
2.1.17 Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds  
2.1.18 Placements with Parents  
2.1.19 Placements Outside England and Wales  
2.1.20 Notifications from Other Local Authorities  
2.1.21 Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
2.1.22 Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services  
2.1.23 Notification of Significant Events  
2.1.24 Placements in Other Arrangements  
2.1.25 Risk Assessment and Planning  
2.1.26 Providing Personalised Care  
2.1.27 Health and Safety  
2.1.28 Children involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance  

   

2.2

Monitoring and Reviews

  
2.2.1 Social Worker Visits to Looked After Children  
2.2.2 Advocacy and Independent Visitors  
2.2.3 Looked After Reviews  
2.2.4 Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing Officer  
2.2.5 Case Escalation Process  
2.2.6 Secure Accommodation (Criteria) Reviews  

   

2.3

Contact and Overnight Stays

  
  See also: Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
2.3.1 Contact with Parents / Adults and Siblings  
2.3.2 Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)  

   

2.4

Education, School Trips and Holidays

  
  See also: Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
2.4.1 Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UK  
2.4.2 Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After Children  
2.4.3 Leisure Activities  

   

2.5

Health and Wellbeing

  
2.5.1 Health Care Assessments and Plans  
2.5.2 Personal Care and Relationships  
2.5.3 Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management  
2.5.4 Restrictive Physical Intervention and Restraint  

   

2.6

Identity

  
2.6.1 Change of Name of a Looked After Child  
2.6.2 Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Looked After Child  


3. Adoption

Caption: Adoption
   

3.1

Adoption and Permanence

  
 

See: Local Resources (Adoption and Permanence)

See also: Adoption Strategy: Achieving Excellence Everywhere

  
3.1.1 Adoption Agency Statement of Purpose  
3.1.2 Recruitment, Assessment and Approvals of Prospective Adopters Updated
3.1.3 Adoption Panel  
  See also: Good Practice Guidance for Adoption Agencies and Cafcass: Children Relinquished for Adoption  
3.1.4 Placement for Adoption  
3.1.5 Adoption Support  
3.1.6 Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive Placements 
3.1.7 Adoption Reviews  
3.1.8 Disruption of Adoptive Placements  
3.1.9 Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already Adopted  
3.1.10 Inter Country Adoption  
3.1.11 Non Agency Adoption  
3.1.12 Adoption Case Records  
3.1.13 Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case Records - under review  
3.1.14 Intermediary Services  
3.1.15 Life Story Books Guidance  
3.1.16 Later Life Letters  
3.1.17 Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters  

   

3.2

Special Guardianship

  
  For Local Documents please see Local Resources (Special Guardianship)  
3.2.1 Special Guardianship Order Policy and Procedure  
3.2.2 Court Reports in Adoption/Special Guardianship Guidance  
3.2.3 Child Arrangements Orders  


4. Fostering Services

  See also: Local Resources (Fostering Service)  
4.1 Statement of Purpose  
4.2 Private Fostering  
4.3 Placements with Connected Persons  
4.4 Fostering Panel  
4.5 Persons Disqualified from Fostering  
4.6 Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers - under review Updated
4.7 Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer Approval  
4.8 Supervision and Support of Foster Carers  
4.9 Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers - under review  
4.10 Allegations Against Foster Carers  
4.11 Training and Development of Foster Carers  


5. Leaving Care and Transition

5.1 Leaving Care and Transition  
5.2 Staying Put  
5.3 Financial Arrangements for Care Leavers - to follow  
5.4 Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody


6. Case Management and Recording

Caption: Case Management
   
6.1 Recording Policy and Guidelines  
6.2 Case Records for Looked After Children (including Retention)  
6.3 Access to Records  
6.4 Transfer Protocol - Children's Services  
6.5 Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations  
6.6 Caseload Policy  
6.7 Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding Staff  
6.8 Storage of Data on Mobile Devices  


7. Appendices

7.1 List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers  
7.2 Working Together to Safeguard Children  
7.3 Ofsted Inspection Framework  
7.4 Local Resources  
7.5 Amendments